THE WAITOMO COUNTY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 15001, 24 May 1912, Page 9

THE WAITOMO COUNTY.

A YEAR OF GREAT PROGRESS. SHORTAGE OF LABOUR FELT. [FROM OtTl OWN COBRKSPOSDENT.] TeKutti. Thursday. Some idaa of the progress of tho Waitomp County is to be gained from the annual report* and balance-sheet which was read at the last Council meeting. ; The total receipts for the year ending March 31, 1912, amounted to £22,22113s sd, of which £10,744 was loan money, £3956 15s 4d Government grants, £2692 17s 5d- thirds of rent of Crown sections, £2115 2s M general rates. The receipts of the county for the previous year amounted to £9929 lis Id, and the increase during the past year *is mainly attributable to loan money 'which has been devoted to metalling work. During the year loans were raised by the Council amounting to over £25,000, of which £10,744 has been received from the Treasury. In consequence of . the extremely bad teason considerably less work was done than was anticipated. ; , The labour' .difficulty , was a .serious, matter to the Council during the past year, as also was the lack of competition for contracts. With favourable conditions, far greater progress would have been made, and the Council is looking forward to a greater activity during the coming season. t The following extract from the report indicates a new order of the things iii respect to the rating of native lands ;— " During the . past year all native lands have been. placed on the county rolls, and made ratable in respect to native owners ae well as nominated native owners. So far the result has been very satisfactory. The total amount of rates owing by natives is £293. _ Rate notices were issued for this amount an. February last, and up to the present : over 40 natives have paid their rates, amounting to nearly £50. Seeing tho short notice received by the natives their- promptitude in paying compares favourably with that of tho European ratepayers.", ■ ■4': The machinery provided by the 1910 amendment to tho Rating Act equips the local authority with ample power to collect rates, or failing payment to have the amounts charged on the lands. In the case of blocks ■in which the interests have not been individualised, the local authority has power to charge the full amount to any individual owner as the nominated owner of tho block. Cases have arisen locally wherein the nominated owner wished to pay the whole of the rates, but desired to have the amounts due by other owners credited to him and registered against the non-paying owners' interests. This point was brought before the native Minister by Mr. P. Mora, county clerk, and the Minister promised to make provision to ■ meet such cases, either by making tho rates chargeable to the : Government and registering the amounts against the title, or by allowing the nominated owner to pay the rates in full, and register the amount, less his own liability, against the title free of coat. A knowledge of how the county is being settled is to bo gained from the manner in which the general rate of the county is levied. Approximately 590,000 acres are on the county roll, valued at £952,843. Of this amount 61,766 acres of Crown land and 99,601 acres of native land, valued at £158,998, is now ratable. Native lands occupied by Europeans amount to 195,000 acres, valued at £288,411. Native lands owned by nominated native owners amount to 67,553 acres, valued at £93,853. These lands, at a rate of fd in the £, contribute £1194 lis 4d in general rates, Crown lands amounting to 165,356 acres are valued at £431,581, and contribute £1348 13s 9d in general rates. It will thus be seen that Crown settlers with about half the area of ratable land, contribute considerably more than the ratable native lands. /